Exodus 14:13

THE LORD’S SALVATION

‘Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.’

Exodus 14:13

I. These words, which to fleshly Israel must have seemed so strange, and which to weak faith echo so strangely still, contain two parts, a duty and a blessing.—They were to ‘stand still,’ and so should they see the salvation of God. And this condition of blessing runs continually through the whole history of the Jewish and Christian Church. When God has tried His chosen servants or His chosen people, the most frequent trial perhaps has been this, whether they would tarry the Lord’s leisure, be content to receive God’s gift in God’s way, hasten not, turn not to the right hand or the left, but ‘stand still’ and see the salvation of God. By patient (the word implies suffering) waiting for God, an unresisting resistance unto blood, did the Church take root in the whole world.

II. It is for instruction only that we may ask why God should so have annexed the blessing of conquest to enduring suffering, and made patience mightier than what men call active virtues. (1) It may be that it has some mysterious connection with the sufferings of Christ. Vicarious suffering may be so far well-pleasing to God as having a communion with the sufferings of His beloved Son, and doubtless it may make those who are partakers of it more capable of the communication of the merits and influence of His passion. (2) Then, also, it may be needful, in the wisdom of God, for the perfecting of His saints. As all trial implies pain, so the trial of the most precious vessels, it may be, is to be accompanied by pains proportionate. (3) It is evident, that so God’s power and glory are most shown in averting suffering, or in crowning the enduring faith by His blessing. (4) Since man’s self-will was the cause of his fall, God would thus teach him to renounce dependence upon himself, to quit his own wisdom and his own schemes, and do God’s will.

Dr. Pusey.

Illustration

(1) ‘With the deliverance of that day, the independent life of the nation was to commence, and it was to be a Divine deliverance, kept ever in mind by a religious ceremony. The civil year began with the first new moon in October, the sacred with the first new moon in April. In Egypt the fixed year began in June, at the rise of the Nile. The Babylonians began the year at the vernal equinox. The Hebrew names are Tisri, at the autumnal equinox, and Abib, or Nisam, at the vernal equinox. Spring is the true beginning of the year; everything then begins to live again. Fitting type of the beginning of a nation’s life.’

(2) ‘There are two commands which come to us when we are in perplexity. The first is to stand still and see God’s salvation. If you do not know what to do, wait to see what God is about to do. Only be still, cool, calm, collected. Look not around at the imminent danger, but up to his very present help. And when He says, “Go forward,” do not hesitate for a moment to advance. For as your feet touch the fringe of the brine, a way will cleave down into the heart of the sea, and through the depths.’